Bengals giving Cedric Ogbuehi a 'clean slate' to start OTAs

True to his word, new Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack is giving Cedric Ogbuehi a chance to redeem himself in 2018.

The Bengals hit the field for OTAs this week and Ogbuehi got a chance at both offensive tackle spots — with plans for him to compete at right guard as well.

Of course, the “clean slate” is something Pollack says applies to everyone.

“I told them Day 1 everyone here has a clean slate,” Pollack said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Paul Dehner Jr.. “What you have done in the past is really irrelevant to me … You can go from the penthouse to outhouse real quick. Hopefully, you go from the outhouse to penthouse just as fast, but it takes a lot of work.”

The theme of versatility is an important one, though it isn’t hard to see how three of the five spots shake out by the regular season. New arrivals Cordy Glenn and Billy Price will man left tackle and center, respectively, while Clint Boling will start at guard between them.

Pollack’s right side of the line is more interesting. Ogbuehi will get a shot at guard, though he’ll have to compete with guys like Trey Hopkins, if not Christian Westerman and others. At tackle, the battle seems like it is Jake Fisher’s to lose, though Bobby Hart is still trying out for the team as well.

Fifth-year option declined or not, Ogbuehi is a first-round talent who still has a chance to turn his career around with the Bengals. Should he respond to Pollack’s technique asks and system well, he could be an interesting comeback story.

It’s all the same to the Bengals. They want the competition to create the best possible line tandem possible, with the names earning starting jobs up to the players who seize the moment.